Grate bar



Feb. 28, 1933. J' s. THOMPSON 1,899,538

' GRATE BAR Filed June 25, 1951 lNvEN .R

ATTORNEYS Feb. 28,

UNrrEns'rATl-:s PATENT oFFicE :mrs s. Monson, or NEW nocnELLE, NEW Yonx, AssIcNon ro Irina: coarolwrron; or cnEvEmNn, omo, A coEroEArIoN. or nmwana GBATE BAR Application led June 25,

This invention relates to grate bars used for heavy duty purposes in locomotives, boiler furnaces, etc., and particularly those of the type which include a carrier, mounted on a frame'- or as part of a Stoker, and a plurality of fuel-supporting units or finger bars reymovably mounted thereon. Specifically, the present invention is directed to the provision of such fuel-supporting units which are 1o cheap, of light weight, and so constructed as to withstand the temperatures to which they are subjected without injury. The new units are particularly adapted for locomotive -grate bars and an embodiment of the invenilS-tion suitable for that purpose will be described in detail for purposes of explanation, though it is to be understood that the utility of the invention is not limited to that particular use.

At the present time, the weight of the grate structure has become a matter of considerable importance in the ldesign and construction of locomotives, and certain railroads have substituted cast steel grate bars for the cast iron ones previously used, in order to reduce weight. Both cast iron and cast steel 'bars made in accordance with standard practise without side lugs are greatly adected by heat and require frequent replacement.

The present invention is, accordingly, di- 'rected to the provision of a grate bar which is lighter in weight per square foot of grate area than standard steel grate bars, and which is cheaper in cost and of much longer life.

The new bar comprises a carrier of any suitable construction and a plurality of fuelsupporting units thereon, each being hollow and formed of a single piece of sheet metal.

Each unit resembles a closed box and it is of light gauge sheet stock, stiiened during the process of manufacture to resist distortion due to working stresses. In addition, each unit is formed to overcome diiiiculties which ,result from cumulative expansion. For this purpose the top of each unit which supports the fuel is, preferably formed with convolutions or ribs, so that the expansion of different parts of the top takes place in diierent directions, andthe sides of the units are simi- 1931. S'erial No. 546.779.

larly corrugated or otherwise bent out of a plane to prevent cumulative expansion and to provide increased stiffness and rigidity.

1g. l is a view in side elevation of one form of fuel-supporting unit constructed inv accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the unit shown in Fi 1; Fig. 4 is a view in slde elevation of a modiied construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4c;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 7 of Fig. el; v

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of another modified form of unit;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional line 9 9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the unit illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawing, `the unit shown in Fig. 1 is made of a single piece ci sheet steel and it is formed with a fuel-supporting top generally designated 1l and side walls 12 an 13. 1n the formation of the unit, the top 11 lies centrally of the'blank and the side walls are bent at right angles to the top by suitable operations. Each side wall is provided with'an edge Han e 14 and, in the process of manufacture, the anges are brought into edge contact and secured together. by Welding or the like. The anges accordingly deine a. seam which extends from the point 15 at one end of the top along the edges of the remainder of the unit to the` point 16 at the other end of the top. The end edges of each ange are brought into engagement with the end edges of the top at the points 15 and 16 forming a seam extending across each end of the unit, which seam is also closed by welding.

At its lower edge, the unit is provided with means by which it may be mounted on a carrier and inthe construction illustrated, the unit is shown conventionally as having a recess generally designated 17 for the recepvView on the i tion of the carrier. I do not intend that the unit is to be considered as necessarily having such a recess since in some grate bars of the carrier and finger bar type, the finger bar or units have extending portions which enter recesses in the carrier and any suitable mountin of the units on the carrier can be em loy ,as desired.

t will be seen that the unit as described has a top which supports the fuel and which is likely to be at a considerabl higher temperature than the remainder o the unit and articularly the lower edge of the unit which lies close to the point where the air for combustion first strikes the unit. Frovisic" is accordingl made to overcome cumulative exansion e ects along the top and to this end,

provide the top ofthe unit in the construction illustrated with at least one rib or ridge extending from one boundary of the top to the other. iIn the form shown in Fig. 1, the top has a plurality of transverse ridges 18 with 1ntervening grooves 19. These ridges and grooves constitute corrugations and the tops of the ridges serve as fuel supporting surfaces, while air for combustion may flow across the tops of the units in the grooves. With the top of the unit formed in this manner, expanslon of different parts of the top occurs in different and varying directions and as a consequence, the total expansion effect is broken up. The heating at the top of the unit, therefore, does not result in the top l being distorted or the unit being bulged.

The provision of the transverse corrugations-at the top of the unit serves also as a means for strengthening the top and similar means are employed to strengthen the side walls of each unit so that a lighter gauge of metal may be employed than would otherwise be possible. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, the side walls are provided with beads 20 and as shown, these beads are interrupted in a direction across the unit. They may be arranged regularly in rows as disclosed or an irregular spacing and arran ement may be adopted. The beads may be ormed by bulging the `metal outwardly or by forcing it inwardly, the latter construction being illustrated in Fig. 2.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide the unit with a top which is stiffened to a greater degree than obtainable by transverse corru ations, even though such increased sti ness involves a sacrifice of the means for preventing cumulative expansion eects in a direction lengthwise of the unit. For increased stiffness I may provide the unit with a longitudinal rib 21 along its top together with transverse corrugations 18 at somewhat greater intervals than are show-n in Fig. 1. A unit having a top with a lengthwise rib and transverse corrugations is illustrated in Fig. 4 and in that figure, 'I

have also shown strengthening means for the 'side walls, taking the form of beads 22 which extend com letely across the unit so far as that is possi le. It will be understood that this type of stren thening means for the side ployed with a top of the type shown inn Fig. 8 there is shown a unit which has a top provided simply with a longitudinal rib 23 and having its side walls strengthened by two series of ribs 24 arranged at an angle to the top and intersecting one another. This arrangement of ribs sub-divides the surface of the side walls into a plurality of diamondlslped areas and the ribs extending in the erent inclinations to the top provide great stiffness for the side walls, in the directions in which stresses are applied in service.

In all of the constructions illustrated, the units are provided with spacing projections 25 which maybe formed on opposite face'.`l thereof, one near each end, and serve to keep the units spaced to permit air to flow up between the units. i

In any of the units disclosed, the fiat surfaces are so strengthened b ribs, corrugations, or the like that a very ight sheet stock may be employed in lar e sized units which carry a substantial loa 'Ihe strengthening means for the tops of the units illustrated in Fig. 1 serve the additional pur ose of breaking up cumulative expansion e ects in a directlon len hwise of the unit while the top shown in `ig. 8 is suitably stiffened but cumulative ex ansion across the ytop only is taken care o in a direction transverse to the unit by the longitudinal rib. The varying styles of ridges, etc. employed in the side walls stiften substantially the entire surface of those walls to prevent their being distorted or bent due to stresses which may arise in the event of that while the units are shaken, clinkers become wedged in between adjacent units. These strengthening means, and particularly those illustrated in Fig. 8,. give the side wall of the units great stiffness and rigidity even though the metal em loyed is quite thin. at I claim:

1. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal having a continuous-one-piece top and side portions connected to the top along its edges and depending therefrom, said top being formed with at least one ridge extending from one boundary of the to to another, the top of said ridge constituting a fuel support, said side portions having spaced parts bent out of the planeof the metal and serving to stifl'en the side portions.

2. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal Ahaving a one-piece. top and sides connected rality of transverse ridges,

i liaggxs'sa:

to the to al its e and de ending therefrom? beingdrmed wiiih a pluthe tops of said .rid constituting supporting .means for fu said sides having spaced portions lieng spaced inwardly from the edges thereof nt o udtof the plane of the meta to stiien said si es.

3. In a grate bar, a-removable linger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal having a to and sides connected to the top along its e Oes and depending therefrom, said `top being transversely corrugated, said sides having spaced portions remote from the ed es bent out of the plane of the metal to sti en said sides.

4. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal having a to and sides connected to the top along its ges and depending therefrom said top being formed with a plurality of transverse ridges and a longitudinal ridge intersecting said transverse ridges, said sides having spaced portions bent out of the plane thereof to form a plurality of rows of ribs to stifi'en the sides.

5. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal having a top and sides connected to the top along its edges and depending therefrom, said top being formed with a plurality of transverse ridges separated by depressions, said ridges being so closely spaced as to maintain particles of fuel supported b said finger bar out of said depressions, sai' sides being formed with spaced portions distorted out of the plane thereof and lying spaced inwardly from the edges of said sides, said portions stiifening the sides.

6. In a grate bar, a removable nger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected to the top along its edges and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of the plane thereof to stiden said walls, said deformed portions extending at an angle to the vertical when the finger bar is in normal upright position. v

In a. grate bar, a removable finger bai' which comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side Walls connected to the top along its edges and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of the plane thereofA to stiifen said walls, said portions including elongated ribs extending at an angle to the vertical when the finger is in normal upright position.

8. In a grate. bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected to the top along its edges and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of angle to the vertical when the finger bar is means produced by deformation ef the plane thereof tostie'i'i .said walls, said portions comprising elongated ribs` extend-.'- ingl substantially across saidA side walls at an in normalupright position. .l

9. In :a grate bar, a, removable finger bar whichcomprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected and extending downward. therefrom, said side walls havin .portions deformed out 4of the plane thereo to stifen said walls, said portions comprising ribs arranged end to end in lines and extending substantially. across said walls at an angle tothe vertical when the fin er bar is -in normal upright position.

10. n a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected to the top. along its edges to the top along its edgesx l and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of the plane thereof to stiften said walls, said portions comprising two series of arallel ribs, the ribs of one series intersecting the other. l

11. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar which comprises a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected to the top along its edges and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of the plane thereof to stii'en said walls, said portions comprising two series of arallel ribs, the ribs of one series intersecting the other, and the ribs of both series lyingat an angle to the vertical when theiinger bar is in normal upright position.

12. In a grate bar, a removable n er bar which comprises a single piece o sheet metal formed to provide a fuel-supporting top and side walls connected to the top along its edges and extending downward therefrom, said side walls having portions deformed out of the plane thereof to stiften said walls, said portions comprising a series of ribs inclined to the vertical when the nger bar is in normal upright position.

13. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar havin means for mounting the finger bar on a carrier, said finger bar comprising a Single piece of sheet metal havin a top and sides connected to the top along its edges, said top and sides dehnin a chamber, and said top and sides being ormed with ridges extend- 'ing substantially from one of the boundaries -of the top and of the sides to another.

'14. In a grate bar, a removable finger bar having means for mounting the finger bar on a carrier, said finger bar comprising a single piece of sheet metal having a top and sides connected to the top along its edges, said top and sides definin a chamber, andl said top and sides being ormed with strengthening the metal,

said means extending submntiall throughout the surfaces of sald top and si es.

15. In a grate bar, a removable fin er bar which comprises a top and sides o sheet metal, said finger bar being hollow and each side having portions thereof bent out of the plane of the sheet and serving to stien said sides, said portions including elongated ribs extending at an angle to the vertical'when the iin er bar is in normal upright position.

16. n a grate bar, a removab e finger bar which comprises a top and sides of sheet metal, said finger bar being hollow and the sides thereof havin i portions deformed out of the plane thereo to stifen said walls, said portions including parallel elongated ribs extendin at an angle to the vertical when the fin er ar is in normal u riht position.

n testimony whereof a x my signature.

JAMES S.` THOMPSON.

Lacasse 

